How to Learn How to Speak English in 6 Steps

How to Learn How to Speak English

If you are ready to figure out how to learn how to speak English, consider reviewing this article in full to help you through the process.

Some people dismiss the idea of learning English as being difficult and nearly impossible–but learning English, while it takes patience and dedication, is not impossible at all!

Especially when you are someone who is willing to dedicate yourself to learning English and who is also willing to put in the time and effort it takes to learn a new language.

How to Learn to Speak English: Step by Step

If you want to know how to learn how to speak English, you can start with this basic step by step guide that will help you begin your journey with a solid foundation.

The stronger your foundation, the better your language learning skills will be as you continue to study and improve upon your grasp of the English language.

Step One: Start speaking as much English as you can

Even if you don’t have a great grasp on the English language, the best way to start learning English is to begin speaking it as much as you can.

If this means something as simple as using basic words like “hello,” “good morning,” “how are you?” and so on, that’s fine.

The more words you learn, the more complex your sentences will become, and the greater your understanding of English as you continue to speak it out loud.

Step Two: Work on improving your vocabulary

You will need to expand your vocabulary of English words as you begin learning English. One way to do this is pick up a “to English” dictionary that will translate words from your native language to English.

You can also use mobile apps and online dictionaries accessible via your smart phone, which will be much more convenient than a physical dictionary book.

If you see something and don’t know the English word for it, look it up! Or if you want to say something–such as “I am going to the grocery store,” look up the words and practice them on a regular basis.

Step Three: Listen to real English speakers

You will have an easier time learning English if you have the right pronunciation. The best way to make sure you have good pronunciation is to listen to real English speakers.

This will help you work on your pronunciation and improve it bit by bit over time. Listening to real English speakers will also give you a better idea of English language syntax, which can differ from many other languages.

Step Four: Practice writing English

Our brains learn languages in many different ways, including verbally as well as physically and visually through the act of writing.

Writing words, phrases and sentences in English will help your brain get a firmer grasp on the language as a whole. If you want to make it more fun, practice writing letters in English to friends or family who also speak English.

Step Five: Sign up for an English language learning group

The group can be something you attend in person, an online group or even just a group of fellow English speakers that you know–as long as it’s something that gets you speaking English with others in a group setting.

Practicing English with others is one of the best ways to learn the language, so the more you can get together, the better.

Step Six: Speak English every day

As you begin expanding your vocabulary and pronunciation in English, you will find it becomes easier and easier to use English in your everyday life.

Remember, you should speak English every day in some way–whether it’s talking with friends or family or even strangers in English, or something as simple as talking to yourself in English as you go about your daily errands.

The more you practice, the better you will get at English.

Tips for Learning English

In addition to the basic step by step guidelines above, you can benefit from implementing the following tips into your study of the English language.

Tip #1: Dedicate some time to studying English every week

One of the best ways to help yourself in your quest to learn English is to dedicate a specific amount of time per week (or per day) to studying English and then stick to that schedule.

For example, you might dedicate one hour per day–or 7 hours per week–to learning English. The more consistent you can be with your studies, the better and more efficient you can learn.

Tip #2: Surround yourself with the English language

One of the best ways to learn English–or any language–is to surround yourself with English. Listening to English music, watching English movies or clip, reading English text, etc, are all ways you can surround yourself with the English movies.

One caveat to this: don’t jump in too fast! If you aren’t yet up to the level of understanding enough English, trying to watch an entire movie in English without subtitles won’t really help you.

Instead, watch an English movie with subtitles in your native language–this will help you pick up on the language without leaving you clueless as to what’s going on.

Tip #3: Use multiple tools to help you on your journey

There is no “one way” to learn English, so you don’t have to limit yourself to one particular tool when you want to start learning English as an additional language.

For most people, it is beneficial to take advantage of multiple tools or methods to learn English, as this give you more opportunities to explore the language from a new perspective.

Tools you can use include language learning apps, lesson books, audio tapes/recordings, classes and lessons.

Tip #4: Practice your English out loud with other people

Learning English on paper isn’t enough when you truly want to understand and speak English–you need to practice your English out loud with other people in order to truly grasp the language.

You can do this in several ways: find a study partner who is willing to work with you; ask English speaking friends to help you; chat online (with video chat) with native English speakers; find a language learning group to practice with; or take lessons and/or private lessons.

Tip #5: Practice, practice, practice

In addition to setting aside a specific amount of time every week to study English, you need to practice English every day.

Practicing English is key for taking in sight words, repetition and other essentials that will give you a better grasp on the English language.

Practicing can be as simple as saying the English word for random objects you see during the day, or even something silly like carrying post-it notes and writing down the English words for objects around your home.

The more fun you can make practice, the more likely you are to keep up with it, so don’t be afraid to get creative!

Common Mistakes to Avoid With English

If you plan to learn how to speak English, you will want to avoid these all too common mistakes which can curb your studies and make learning the language more difficult.

Mistake #1: Focusing too much on grammar

English grammar isn’t always the easiest to understand, and many people learning how to speak English will needlessly focus on trying to obtain “perfect grammar.”

This can lead to frustrating and negative feelings as grammar mistakes pile up. Instead of attempting to achieve perfect English grammar, however, focus on learning the basics first and save the harder grammar rules for later on.

Mistake #2: Not speaking English out loud

You may not feel confident in your English speaking skills just yet, which can lead you to feel nervous or shy about speaking it out loud with other people.

However, the best way to practice English is by speaking it out loud in your daily life, so stop feeling nervous and start talking!

Mistake #3: Listening to people who say English is hard

No, you won’t learn English overnight or through any instantaneous means that don’t require hard work and effort. But you can learn how to speak English and it is not some impossible task that can only be overcome by linguistic experts–people learn how to speak English every day, and you can be one of them!

Final Thoughts on Learning to Speak English

Learning English can be a rewarding task that provides you with many benefits, no matter when you decide to learn English or how well your grasp of the language is when you begin your language learning journey in earnest.

When you are ready to take on learning English, consider the following guide to help you through the process of learning one of the most commonly used languages in the world.